Stillwater Demon created & tied by by Jim McCoul

A Winter Weekend

I’m still smiling as I write this. It’s been a bitter cold winter weekend, but a warm fire crackles in our woodstove, started by the weekend flyers, unread, because we need for nothing. We’re at home in Guysborough County, exactly were we want to be, and we’re very thankful for everything. Peace and joy are found right here in Stillwater. We’re not being smug - we only wish that everyone were this happy.

Our friends Vicky and Jim McCoul visited for the weekend from Brookfield. Jim and I seized a rare opportunity to design and tie a featherwing traditional-style salmon fly that we named the Stillwater Demon. This experience is rare because it takes at least a full day of intensive work to produce one of these breathtaking creations made from natural materials, more artworks than flies for fishing. Tying one of these is like a journey to a distant time and place; Victorian times, the “classic” salmon fly period in the British Isles. As the gospel song “People Get Ready” goes, “Don’t need no ticket, you just get on board!”

Steve Clapperton, the Scotsman who hosts Eastlink Cable TV’s excellent “Fishing with Friends” program, dropped by on his lunch break from the Firearms Safety Course held at the Stillwater Community Centre. Steve was one of 16 participants in the two day event, hosted by our St. Mary’s Shooter’s Association.

Molly, who’s dreaming of the coming trout season and the adventures that accompany it, loves a good live auction. Friends Ronnie and Kelly Kaiser accompanied Molly and Vicky on a rare treat, a great Saturday antique auction in Antigonish. As noted earlier, we need nothing, so it must be Molly’s shopping gene that motivates this behaviour. A good auction’s really fun though, unlike many mall and big-box experiences.

Meanwhile Jim and I were joined by our neighbour, Danny MacIntosh, for an afternoon of fly tying. Danny led us through the tying of a MacIntosh and White Hackle Dry fly. His skill, developed in a lifetime of tying these wonderful flies from his family heritage, was amazing and inspiring. MacIntosh flies are deceptively simple, easy to tie, but not at all easy to tie well. Danny’s flies are tied very well; each crafted not only to catch fish, but durable enough to survive many hook-ups.

If winter is getting to you, maybe fly tying will help. Works for me. Fly tying combined with a visit from friends is as good as it gets. Come visit.